美国语文第五册 第97期:北美食米鸟(3)

 　　Further observation and experience have given me a different idea of this feathered voluptuary, 经过进一步观察体验，对这个身披羽裳、耽于安逸享乐的主儿，我有了全新认识，

　　which I will venture to impart for the benefit of my young readers, 鉴于年轻读者的需要，我乐于勇敢地传教。

　　who may regard him with the same unqualified envy and admiration¹ which I once indulged. 这些年轻人可能与我当时沉湎的感觉相同，那么嫉妒和赞赏食米鸟。

　　I have shown him only as I saw him at first, in what I may call the poetical² part of his career, 当第一眼看到它，我便为之心颤，称它具有生命的诗意。

　　when he, in a manner, devoted³ himself to elegant pursuits and enjoyments⁵, 从某种意义上说，食米鸟追求高雅以及享受的表达，

　　and was a bird of music, and song, and taste, and sensibility, and refinement⁶. 它迷恋音乐、歌声，关注品位、敏感还有精致，

　　While this lasted he was sacred from injury;  因此，这种神圣的鸟类不容丝毫伤害，

　　the very schoolboy would not fling a stone at him, and the merest rustic⁷ would pause to listen to his strain. 甚至学校那些淘气鬼们不会冲它投掷石块，淳朴的农民时而停下脚步聆听它歌唱。

　　But mark the difference. 当然，不妨关注这些差异。

　　As the year advances, as the clover blossoms disappear, and the spring fades into summer, 随着光阴流逝，苜蓿草花儿凋谢，春天隐退，夏天到来，

　　he gradually gives up his elegant tastes and habits, doffs⁸ his poetical suit of black, assumes a russet, dusty garb⁹, 食米鸟不再执著于自己的高雅品位，它逐渐褪去诗意的黑色装束，换上赤褐色的粗鄙外表；

　　and sinks to the gross enjoyment⁴ of common vulgar birds. 它整日沉溺享受安乐，与那些常见的恶俗鸟儿没什么两样；

　　His notes no longer vibrate on the ear; he is stuffing himself with the seeds of the tall weeds on which he lately swung and chanted so melodiously¹⁰. 它的歌唱不再悦耳，胃囊里也装满草籽，就在那些飞扬的野草上，它刚才还在摇晃着优美身躯，反复吟唱动听的歌谣。

　　He has become a bon vivant, a gourmand¹¹: with him now there is nothing like the "joys of the table." 如今它过得很好，气色不错，不过饕餮之徒而已。

　　In a little while he grows tired of plain, homely¹² fare, and is off on a gastronomic¹³ tour in quest of foreign luxuries. 很快，它便厌倦了简朴的生活方式，到处寻觅丰馔珍肴，对它来说，没有任何东西能比过享用美食大餐的受用。

1 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

2 poetical   

adj.似诗人的；诗一般的；韵文的；富有诗意的

参考例句：

• This is a poetical picture of the landscape. 这是一幅富有诗意的风景画。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• John is making a periphrastic study in a worn-out poetical fashion. 约翰正在对陈腐的诗风做迂回冗长的研究。 来自辞典例句

3 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

4 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

5 enjoyments   

愉快( enjoyment的名词复数 )； 令人愉快的事物； 享有； 享受

参考例句：

• He is fond of worldly enjoyments. 他喜爱世俗的享乐。
• The humanities and amenities of life had no attraction for him--its peaceful enjoyments no charm. 对他来说，生活中的人情和乐趣并没有吸引力——生活中的恬静的享受也没有魅力。

6 refinement   

n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼

参考例句：

• Sally is a woman of great refinement and beauty. 莎莉是个温文尔雅又很漂亮的女士。
• Good manners and correct speech are marks of refinement.彬彬有礼和谈吐得体是文雅的标志。

7 rustic   

adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬

参考例句：

• It was nearly seven months of leisurely rustic living before Michael felt real boredom.这种悠闲的乡村生活过了差不多七个月之后,迈克尔开始感到烦闷。
• We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust.我们希望新鲜的空气和乡村的氛围能帮他调整自己。

8 doffs   

v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She doffs her garb worn under fire and wears again female attire. 脱我战时袍着我旧时裳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She doffs her garb worn under fire And wears again female attire. 区别于制服、工作服和牧师服装的普通衣服。 来自互联网

9 garb   

n.服装，装束

参考例句：

• He wore the garb of a general.他身着将军的制服。
• Certain political,social,and legal forms reappear in seemingly different garb.一些政治、社会和法律的形式在表面不同的外衣下重复出现。

10 melodiously   

参考例句：

11 gourmand   

n.嗜食者

参考例句：

• He was long famed as a gourmand and heavy smoker and drinker.长期以来，他一直以嗜好美食和烟酒闻名。
• The food here satisfies gourmands rather than gourmets.这里的食物可以管饱却不讲究品质。

12 homely   

adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的

参考例句：

• We had a homely meal of bread and cheese.我们吃了一顿面包加乳酪的家常便餐。
• Come and have a homely meal with us,will you?来和我们一起吃顿家常便饭，好吗？

13 gastronomic   

adj.美食（烹饪）法的，烹任学的

参考例句：

• The gastronomic restaurant is a feature of the hotel. 美食餐厅是这家饭店的一个特色。 来自互联网
• The restaurant offers a special gastronomic menu. 这家餐馆备有一份特别的美食菜单。 来自互联网